Orchard protective system



March 21, 1933. J D R DE LAND 1,902,119

ORCHARD PROTECTIVE SYSTEM Filed Jan. 16, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1'37 12'1 5% I i i 1 5 g 5M {Hi i Ill 4 a? F 5 5 wins 35 lm/emor Julm Del ReaDeliami.

March 21, 1933. J. D. R. DE LAND 1,902,119

ORCHARD PROTECTIVE SYSTEM Filed Jan. 16, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 9 I rwentarJalz r zjel Rea DeLarzd.

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Patented Mar. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES Application fi1edQJanuary'16, 1932. 'Serial no' ss'zjossfif This invention has reference'to winddirecting bafiie walls adapted to be positioned along the windward sidesof orchards toprotect them from the destructive actionfof hot 5 winds,or to prevent frosting of the trees by causing air circulation to besetup in the orchard. The nature of'the present'invention, both withrespect to its objects andthe type of structure'employed, is similar incer- 0 tain respects to the invention comprising the subject matter ofPatent No. 1,749,068,-

granted to me March 4, 1930, on orchard protective system. I a

The objects of the invention are three-fold.

First, the present type of ba-file system is designed with the view ofpreventing the deleterious effect had upon orchard trees and-the fruit,by hot winds such as commonly prevail in fruit districts in SouthernCalifornia, these hot winds to which I refer being commonly termed SantaAnas. My observa- V burnt ap earance. That theburning of the fruit in ismanner results not merely from temperature conditions alone, but ratherfrom the effect of the velocity of hot winds passing through theorchard, is indicated by the fact I that by directing the hot winds awayfrom the trees, the burning eifect u'suallyencountered is obviated. Inaccordance with the invention, I have provided a bafile wall structurewhereby such burning winds may be defiected upwardly into the atmosphereabove the orchard trees, and to such-an extent'that the wind velocitythrough the orchard-is reduced to the point at Whichno appreciableamount of burning of the'trees takes place.

A second object of the invention is to provide a baffle wall systemadaptable not only for preventing the destructive eifect had on theorchard trees by hot winds, but which trees as a result offrostduring'the cold is also capable of preventing damage to the season.I -have ascertained that in the atmos-' phere above the normalheightofthe ftrees, there --is at almost all times a substantial wind 7velocity, and that this condition prevails at such times'as the treesordinarily are subj ected to frost, when there islittle or no windvelocity close to the ground or up to a: height corresponding'to that oforchardtrees. The prevention of damage tothe trees by frost 'isaccomplished in accordance with themvention by adapting the same b'afilewall that is utilized, as hereinabove described, to, direct the hot andcomparatively low-wind currents above the orchard, for causing the windcurrents in the zone above the tops of theorchardtrees, to be directedthrough the orchard closeto the ground surface. It is commonly knownthat in ordenfor frost conditions to prevail, the atmospherekmust berelatively quiet with little'or no wind velocitya Therefore by settingup a current 'ofair. by directing the wind 3 currents ifromthe superatmospheric region downwardly throughthe orchard, I am enabled-to setupsufiicient wind velocity through the trees to prevent frosting. r 1 Athird object of the invention is to provide a bafiie wall str-ucturecapable of being adjustedto a position suchthat when not in use foreither of the purposes above men-' tioned, has no wind obstructing ordeflecting effect, so that when the prevailingconditions aresuch that itis desired to. maintain-the normal wind velocity through the orchard,the bafile wall maybe renderedinefi'ective 1 without having todisassemble or take down .thewall. W

'Various additional-objects of the invention, as well as the details ofa typical form of bafile structure representing a preferred form of theinvention, will'be understood from a description to follow. Reference ishad for purposes of description to theaccomspanying drawings in whichFig. 1 is arperspective'zvi v 7 section or unit of a continuous bafilewall structure adapted .to bearranged along the windwardside'of theorchard;

Fig.2 is aside elevation of'the bafile unit .shown in Fig. 1,"Fig. 2illustrating the" arew showing one rangement of the bafile wall relativeto the orchard trees and also one position of the baffle wall;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the baffle wall to beadjusted to a position of reverse inclination; and

Fig. 4 is similar to Figs. 2 and 3,but shows the bafile wall to beadjusted to its inoperative or non-Wind obstructing position. 7 g 7 InFig. l, I show one section or unitof an entire baffle wallstructure-that in practice would be erected along the windward side ofthe orchard. It will be clear without fur ther illustration, that theentire bafile .Wall will consist of a series of units, as illustrated inFig. 1, arranged end toend so as to form a substantially continuouswall. Each unit may bedescribed generally as comprising a wall'having asubstantially continuous, as distinguished from apertured, winddeflecting surface extending upwardly to a-point pref- ,erably I. abovethe orchard trees. Suitable mounting means, which may be of any desiredconstruction, is provided for enabling the wall to be adjusted to aposition: of inclination such as indicatedin-Fig. 2, or to a position ofreverse inclination, asshown in Fig. 3, or to the horizontal position ofFig. 4.

In Fig. 1, the frame of the bafiie wall is indicated generally by the,numeral 10, and while this frame may be of any suitable constru'ction,I have shown it typically as comprising triangularly arranged endmembers 11 coming together at their upper ends, and connected at theirlower endsby members 12. The two sets of end frame members llareconnected at their upper'ends by member 13, and at their lower ends bymembers 14. A transverse shaft 15, :the ends of which project beyond theends of a 'baflie wall, is attached, by welding or otherwise, to braces16 extending between the frame members 11, and the shaft is j ournaledat its ends in bearings 17 carried on the upper ends of standards 18.These standards are connected to footing posts 18a,-embedded in theground," by coupling unions 1%. The latter serve also as means foradjusting theiheights oflthe respec-,

tive standards. i

The wall structure is =.reenforcedby a systemof-braces consisting ofrods 193I1df20, welded at their upper ends to crossmember 13 andconverging to points of attachment with shaft 15 at its longitudinalcenter,'and rods 21 having their 'lower'ends :welded to members 14 andtheir upper ends welded to the shaft. As will-readily appear, the entirewall structure is rotatable in bearings 17 :to

any of the positions-shown in Figs. 2, 3. or 4.

.As a means for holding the wall in any position of adjus'tmentto whichit maybe tujrned,--I provide a .pair .of circular bands 23 which arewelded:to'theoutsides ofsframe .}members 11 at each end- 0f the wall,bands 23 being concentric with shaft 15.

upper andlower ends of the wall, these vanes being pivotally connectedwith the wall in such mannera's to be adjustable to various .positions.of angularity relative thereto.

Each of the vanes comprises a rectangular frame-30 havinga crossbrace31, the sides of the frame corresponding with that of-the .wall proper.The vanes pivotally adjustable about pins 33, and the vanes may beheldin-tfhe desired positions-0f adjustment by pins inserted throughopenings 34 Within circular segments 35 of the brackets, the pins soinserted being adapted to project into openings 36 in the end framemembers-of'the vanes.

- :Any suitable form of covering maybeprovided :for the wall and itsattached vanes, but 1 preferably utilize a fabric. or canvas coveringsoattachedto the frames as to be readily removable; 'The frame 10 carrieson its backsurface, as viewed in Fig. 1, a canvas covering 38' which isheld in place'and drawn taut by a' plurality of cables 39 extendinglongitudinally of'the wall and around the end frame niembersthereof. 1Cables 39 may 'betaken up and the covering distended over the frame byturn buckles 40. carried by the cables. The vanes 28 and 29 have similarfabric'coverings 42 held in place=by=cables 43 extending around theupperand lower meme bers of the vane frames. 'The fabric cover- -1ng-onboth the large frame 11 and the vane frames may be maintainedproperlydistended laterally of the frames by, securing the fabric totransverselyextending rods 44 'to which the cables 39 and'43 arefastened. The

canvas coverings on both the frame 11 and the vane frames,aresupported'by a plurality of wires 48 attached to the upper and lowertransverse members. of the frames. These longitudinally extending wires48 support the canvas in the sense that as :wind pressure is exertedagainst the outer surface of the coverings, the-coverings are backed upby-the wires. 1. T

. Fig. 2'representsthepositionto which the baffle wall assembly maybeadjusted during such timeszas there would normally be :but

A pair of little orno wind velocity through the orchard,

are pivotally mounted on; the wallibymeansof brackets 32 welded toframe'members 11, and having openings through which removable pins 33are inserted Withinopenings (not shown) in :the inner transverse framemembers 30a of the vanes. As will, appear, the vanes are represented bytrees 45, under which conditially horizontal position as shown, in orderto form with the. ground surface, an air shaft or tunnel whichmaterially aids in the set' l 1 ting up of an air flow-towa1d theorchard trees. Thus by the arrangement of Fig. 2, the air currentsflowing with substantial velocity in the higher atmospheric zone, willbe caused to pass downwardly along the outside of the baffle wall, andthence to blow horizontally through the orchard and through the normallyquiet stratum of air occupied by the trees.

In the event hot winds are blowing toward the orchard, that in theabsence of some deflecting means would tend to produce a burning eflecton the trees as hereinabove mentioned, the baflle wall may be swungtoward the left from the position of Fig. 2, to that of Fig. 3. Here thelower vane 29 is adjusted to the position shown, in whcih it forms adownward continuation of the wall proper. In this position of the wall,the upper vane 28 may be removed, if desired, or it may be adjustedeither to the dotted line position 28a or it may be allowed to remain inthe position of Fig. 2. Thus in Fig. 3, the hot wind currents, uponstriking the baflie wall, are deflected upwardly into theatmosphere'above the orchard trees, to the end that the wind velocitythrough the orchard is so reduced as to produce no deleterious effectupon the trees.

Under normal temperature conditions and when the air is comparativelyquiet, it may be desirable to permit as much Wind flow through theorchard as possible,an-d to render the bafie wall inoperative as anobstruction to wind flow. Under such conditions, the wall may beadjusted to the horizontal position of Fig. 4, wherein substantially noresistance is oflered by the baffle wall to the passage of air currentsthrough the orchard. hen the wall is adjusted to its horizontalposition, the vanes 28 and 29 either may be adjusted to horizontalpositions as shown, or they may be detached from the wall and set aside.

I claim:

1. An orchard protective wind deflecting structure adapted to be erectedat the windward side of an orchard comprising, a baflle In this positionof the wall, the lower vane 29 is adjusted to a substan-' thereto.

wallhaving'a substantially continuous wind deflecting surfaceextendingupwardly above the orchardtrees, means pivotally supporting said wallintermediate its upper and loW-' er ends, and a vane attached to saidwall and movable relative thereto.: i 7

2. An orchard protective wind deflecting stri'ictureadapted to beerected at the windward side ofan orchardicomprising, a baflle 'wallhaving a substantially continuous wind deflecting surface extendingupwardly above the orchardtrees, a vane pivotally attached to said wall,and means for holding said vane in adjusted positions relative'to saidwall. e i 3., An orchard protective wind deflecting structure adapted tobe erected at the windward side of an orchard comprising, a baliie wallhaving a substantially continuous wind deflecting surface extendingupwardly above the orchard trees, :a pair of vanes pivotally attached tothe upper and lower ends of said wall, and means torholding said vanesin adjusted positions relative to said wall.

1 .4. An orchard protective wind deflecting structure adapted to beerected at the wind- 7' ward side of an orchard comprising, a battlewall having a substantially continuous Wind said wall and extending atan angle relative 5. An orchard protective wind deflecting structureadapted to be erected at the windward side of an orchard comprising, abaffle wall having a substantially continuous wind deflecting surfaceextending upwardly above the orchard trees, and inclined toward theorchard, and ahorizontally extending vane attached to the lower end ofsaid wall.

6. An orchard protective wind deflecting structure adapted to beerected: at the windward side of an orchard comprising, a battle wallhaving a substantially continuous wind deflecting surface extendingupwardly above the orchard trees, a pair of vanes pivotally attached tothe upper and lower ends of said wall, said wall and vanes being made upof frames having fabric covers, and means for holding said vanes inadjusted position relative to said wall.

7 An orchard protective wind deflecting structure adapted to be erectedat the windward side of an orchard comprising, a baflie wall having asubstantially continuous wind deflecting surface extending upwardlyabove the orchard trees, means for pivotally supporting said wall at itssides, means associated with said supporting means for holding said wallin a plurality of positions of adjustment, a pair of vanes pivotallyattached to theupper and lower ends of said wall, and

means for'holding said vanes in adjusted positions relative to saldwall.

8. An orchard protective wind deflecting structure adapted to be erectedat the winddeflecting surface extending upwardly above to orchard'trees,xanda vane attached to Ward side of an orchard comprising,abaflie Wall having a substantially continuous Wind deflecting surfaceextendingupwardly above the orchard trees, said wall including a frameand a cover placed over said frame, means pivotally supporting saidframe intermediate its upper and lower ends, the-Wall being movable toadjusted positions of inclination and to a substantially horizontalposition about said supporting means, and the Wallin horizontal positionbeing spaced from the orchard trees.

9. An orchard protective Wind deflecting structure adapted to be erectedat the Wind- 5 Ward side of an orchard comprising, a ba'fiie Wall havinga substantially continuous Wind deflecting surface extending upwardlyabove the orchard trees, said Wall including a metallic frame and afabric cover placed over said frame, means pivotally supporting saidframe intermediate its upper and lower ends, the Wall being movable toadjusted positions of inclination and to a substantially horizontalposition about said supporting means, and r the Wall in horizontalposition being spaced from the orchard trees.

10. An orchard protective Wind deflecting structure adapted to beerected at the Windward side of an orchard comprising, a baffle Wallhaving a substantially continuous Wind deflecting surface extendingupwardly above 7 the orchard trees, a vane attached to said Wall andextending at an angle relative there- 7 to, and means pivotallysupporting said Wall intermediate its upper and lower ends andpermitting movement of the Wall to adjusted positions of inclination.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 29th 40 day of September 1931.

JOHN DEL REA DE LAND.

